Herbal Nutritional Supplement Guide

An herbal nutritional supplement is a plant or part of a plant used for its therapeutic properties in promoting, maintaining, or restoring health.

Sweeping the Nation In Popularity

Sales in herbal nutritional supplements soared from 1.7 billion dollars in 1996, peaking at 2.6 billion dollars in 1998. The top sellers include ginkgo biloba at $156 million; ginseng $96 million; garlic $85 million; and echinacea at $70 million. Much of this popularity is two-fold.

First, people have embraced
preventive self-care. Today more people realize that herbs, along with diet and exercise can play a vital role in helping to live longer healthier lives.

What's that old saying? ...."An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Second, people are taking steps to learn more about treatment options for their own health conditions. For centuries herbal medicine has been the heart of medicine around the world and used to treat many health conditions.

As such, we have created this page on many specific herbs for people who want to educate themselves about their health enhancing benefits. However, before you click on the herbs below we would like to point out a few precautions and recommendations on buying an herbal nutritional supplement.

Herbal Nutritional Supplement Precautions

Dietary and herbal supplements are not strictly regulated in the U.S. and, as such, manufacturers do not have to guarantee the safety, effectiveness, or even the true content of their products.

In July 2002, ConsumerLab evaluated 166 herbal products and 37% did not pass. They either had too little ingredient, wrong ingredient, or contamination.

Tips on Choosing an Herbal Nutritional Supplement

Things to consider when purchasing an herbal nutritional supplement are:

1. Ensure that the products are produced at pharmaceutical GMP registered facilities. Manufacturers that are GMP compliant adhere to stringent manufacture procedures.

2. Select a product created by someone who is credentialed and qualified to create a supplement with ingredients that work in balance and synergistically to offer the maximum results.

3. Select an herbal nutritional supplement that contains only standardized extracts. Many manufactures do not use standardized extracts because it's much cheaper to use low-quality ingredients.

4. Select herbal nutritional supplements that come with a Certificate of Analysis on file for each batch produced. (This confirms the potency of ingredients used). Does the company control the manufacturing stages through the entire process?

Herbal Nutritional Supplement Guide

Aloe Vera--learn all about this amazing herb. It does more than one would think.

Alfalfa--has a long reputation as a healing herb. Learn all about its medicinal powers and health benefits.

American Ginseng-- is used to reduce the effects of stress, improve performance, boost energy levels, enhance memory, and stimulate the immune system.

Ephedra --learn all about ephedra and its dangers which caused this herb to be banned.

Evening Primrose--is a prized medicinal herb, learn all about its uses, including alleviating pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis, and useful in helping with eczema, acne, and other skin conditions.

Fenugreek --has many applications, including digestive problems such as ulcers, bowel inflammation, and constipation.

Flax Seed -- not the oil - are a good source of fiber which promotes intestinal health. Flax seed oil contains Omega 3 fatty acids, which has shown to be important to cardiovascular health.

Garlic--a powerful herb, garlic is an antioxidant, an antibiotic and can help prevent heart disease.

Ginger-- a digestive aid that can lower cholesterol and treat nausea and motion sickness, among other medicinal herb uses.

Gingko Biloba-- is one of the world’s most used herbs for treating memory loss and degenerative disease conditions.

Goldenseal -- Contemporary herbalists use it for many conditions, but it is most valued for its ability to manage infections and conditions of mucous membranes.

Grape Seed Extract -- is a powerhouse antioxidant with a wide range of vascular health benefits.

Green Tea Extract -- is a powerhouse antioxidant that holds promise for many forms of cancer and heart disease. Evidence also indicates it holds promise as a weight loss aid.